They would've traded the device tax for a mandate delay in a heartbeat. Turns out Democrats might've been willing to go to the mat over the mandate. Which will be pretty epically comic when they end up having to delay it anyway.

Because then it will be clear that Republicans only failed in trying to get Democrats to do what ultimately had to be done. Meaning the entire shutdown was really about Democratic obstinance and/or denial. Take your pick.

Yes, the entire shutdown was about democrats. The greatest country on earth, God bless her, disagrees. Happy weekend!